Glitches handled today in Hattiesburg election

Sep. 24, 2013

Written by

American Staff Writer

Voting has slowed this afternoon compared to the morning turnout in the Hattiesburg special mayoral election, though the turnout is projected to be even heavier than the general election.

“We are seeing above-average turnout in this election, which could exceed the number of votes cast in the first mayoral election,” Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann said. “There is still plenty of time to cast a ballot.

"We encourage all qualified voters to head to the polls by 7 pm. Anyone who is standing in line by 7 tonight will be able to cast a ballot in this election.”

The state office had received reports of a few issues, involving:• Only one of the city’s 14 precincts initially was provided with a master voter roll list with precinct designation by the election commission. The issue became if a voter was not on the precinct poll book, poll workers could not verify their correct voting precinct without contacting the City Clerk’s office.

Secretary of State spokesman Pamela Weaver said in an e-mail that master voter roll lists with precincts had been printed this morning by the city election commission and delivered to precincts.

• Highland Park Precinct: The votes of several students were questioned, based on inquiries regarding residency. The Attorney General and Secretary of State’s Office advised that students properly registered to vote in the Hattiesburg mayoral election should be allowed to cast a ballot.

Weaver said that to her knowledge, all students whose residency was questioned by a poll watcher were able to cast a ballot.

• Unruly poll watchers: The Secretary of State’s Office received complaints regarding the conduct of poll watchers in precincts.

Weaver said the Secretary of State’s office advised city election commissioners that any unruly poll watcher should be instructed to leave by the bailiff of the precinct.